Vehicle-top.



' A. G. McGREGOR.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED nc.4. 1914.

Patnted July 18,1916.

A. G. McGREGORI VEHICLE TOP.

. APPLICATION FILED DEC.4. 19M.

Patented July 18 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- N w w A. G. McGREGOR.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED 02034. m4.

' Patented Jul 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. c m- D STATES PATENT ornion.

ALEXANDER G. MGGREGOR, OF GLOBE, ARIZONA.

VEHICLE-TOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I ALEXANDER G. l\lo(liuceon, a citizen of the UnitedStates,

residing at Globe, in the county of Gila and State of Arizona, haveinvented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Tops. of which the following is a specification, reference beingbad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a dismountable canopy top or cover forautomobiles or other road vehicles, or for boats, and has for its objectto provide a top which may be readily and easily put up or taken down byone person, which, when up, will have no obstructing bows to the sides,thus leaving a. clear view from either side, and which willinthussubjccting the folded tops to such strain as sometimes breaksthe'bow's at their points of support, and which on account of theirconstruction are not fully inclosed in a dust-proof receptacle, andoften become very unsightly when folded.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of an automobileprovided with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of theupper portion of the same on line 2-2, 1. Fig. 3 is a rear view of theupper portion of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a convenientmanner of mounting one of the front supports of thetop on 'one of thewind shieldv supports. Figs. 4e and 4;" are sections on lines 4 and 4",respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustratin a preferredconstruction ofthe front-end of a detail view showing a detachableconnection of parts of one of the longitudinal or main supportingtubes,and Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 of Fig. 6. Fig.6 is a-detail viewshowing a modified form of jointed connection of a longitudinal tubularbar.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section of a part of the rear portion ofthe cover, on line 7 7 Fig. 3. Figs. 8 and 9 are partial top andside-views, respectively, of a preferred form of-one of the crossbars-or bows, and Fig. 10

- is a cross section of the same showing means for removably securingthe flexible cover Specification of Letters Patent.

the top or cover. Fig. 6 is Patented 111115 318, 1916.

Application filed December 4, 1914. Serial No. 875,536.

thereto. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of rear support forthe main bars or tubes of the cover frame.

-Referring to the drawings, 12 denotes a portion of an automobile bodyhaving a wind shield support 13, of any suitable or well-knownconstruction, at its forward end. Suitably attached to said wind shieldsupport, as by clamps 14 (see Fig. 4) are uprights 15 which arepreferably tubular in construction, and which serve to sustain theforward ends of the main or longitudinal bars or tubes 16 of the coverframe, said main bars or tubes having downturned rear ends suitablysupported at the rear portion of the vehicle, as by being mounted on therear seat, or otherwise. Mounted on the main bars 16 are cross bars orbows 1'7 and 17 which are preferably provided with eyes 18 encirclingthe said bars 16, said eyes being preferably lined with soft material,as denoted by dotted lines in Fig. 9, to prevent scratching thelongitudinal bars or tubes 16. Also resting on the upper sides of thecurved rearends of the'main tubes or bars 16 is a cross bar or bow'17.The cross bars or bows 17 and 17 may, if. desired, rest slidingly on themain bar 16 like the cross bar or bow 17.

A flexible canopy top or cover 19, of waterproof cloth or other suitablematerial, is attached at its rear end to forks at the up per ends ofsmall rods 20 which are threaded for the adjustment of said forks andwhich have hinged or pivoted connections at their lower ends withsuitable supports, as brack .ets 21, mounted at the back of the rearseat dust-proof; the said cover being'adapted to.

be turned down, as indicated in dotted lines in F 1g. 2, when access tothe said box or receptacle 1S desired. The flexible cover 19 may .beattached at its sides to the cross bars or manner to a front cross baror bow 24. The,

said front cross bar or how 2-4: is provided with sockets which receivethe forward ends of rods preferably having screw threaded connectionswith blocks 27 which are in turn attached to blocks 28 mounted at thefront ends of the main bars 16, the said blocks 27 being hinged, bymeans of pivots .29. to the said blocks The main tubular bars 16 areprovided at their extreme forward ends with thin portions 30 which willserve as spring clips to hold the blocks 27 in their working positions.

Owing to the construction just described it will be understood that theforward end or cover will act somewhat as a toggle in till stretchingthe same taut to working position, as will be readily understood. Theflexible top or cover may thus be stretched more or less tightly on itssupports, according to the adjustment of the rods 26 in the blocks 97.

To the forward ends of the main bars 16 are attached supports 31 havinground shanks 32 removably fitting in the upper ends oi the forwarduprights 15, and held in working positions by means of spring latches 33attached to the said uprights 15 and engaging the said supports 31 attheir upper ends. When the said spring latches are released fromengagement with the said supports 31 'the latter are free to be lifted-with their shanks from the said uprights 15.

The main bars 16 are preferably tubular and made in sections rcinovablyconnected together in any suitable manner, for exam" ple as shown inFig. (3. by means of pins 34 mounted on short tubular sections 35 linedto parts of the ba 16 and havin bayonetjoint slots ll; in portions ofthe tlibular bars Ill, so that sectional portions of the tubular bars 16may be, engaged or disengaged by part al rotations and endwiseadjustments oi certain portions thereof. Any suitable number of thesejointed connections inthe main bar 113 may be provided, as indicated ata. o, no in Fig. 2.

instead of connecting the sectional bars or tubes l together by theconstruction just dcscribtal, such connection may be effected by theconstruction illustrated in Fig. '6, which shows locking pins 34:pressed outward by means oi springs 34. so that by forcing the saidlocking pins 34 inward one section of a tube 16 may be telescoped withinanother section thereof. V 'l he llexible canopy top or cover 19 may beattached to the'cross bars or bows 17, 17, 17*, between its sides, inany suitable manner, but such attachment will preferably be effected byproviding the said cover with short straps 37-having loops 38 receivedin grooves 39 in the said cross bars or bows. To this end the said crossbars or bows are preferably provided with metal plates 40 overlying saidgrooves and having slots 41 through which said loops 38 may be inserted;the grooves 39 wing of sufficient length to permit of the insertion offastening rods or pins 42 in the said loops 38. This mode of attachmentallows the cover to move freely, within certain limits, transversely ofthe said bars orbows, preventing wrinkling which might occur if thecloth were fastened rigidly at these points.

The rear downturned ends of the main or longitudinal bars or tubes 16may be attached to the back of the rear seat of the vehicle by means ofthe construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12. This construction comprisescollars ll-l provided with bayonet-joint slots 44 for the rece )lJlOIlof pins 45 on the said main bars or tubes 16, so that when the rearsections of the said main bars are disengaged from the other parts theymay be partially turned to disengage the said pins from the horizontalportions of said slots, and they may then be depressed to the loweredpositions denoted by dotted lines. and when thus depressed their upperhorizontal ends may be received in a receptacle, as 46, at the top ofthe back of the rear seat of the vehicle. This receptacle, which may bemetal frame, as l. which will serve to protuct the mica or isioglasswhen the cover is folded in the receptacle or box 22..

\Vhen it is desired to take down the vehicle top the pivotally mountedi'rqint end thereof is first turned up, as indicattd by dotted lines inFig. 2, thus slackening the flexible cover so that the sockets 25 on thefront bar or how 24 may be disengaged from the toggle pins 26. The saidfront cross bar or how 24 may then be placed on top of the main orlongitudinal h re; or tubes 16, and the snap fasteners at t e ends ofthe cross bars or bows (if such be used) may then be released. The boxor receptacle 22 at the ,rear of the vehicle being open, the flexiblecover 19 may be partly drawn down into the same and folded back andforth until the rear how 17 comes down and rests at the rear of the saidreceptacle. The flexible cover is then pulled on down until the secondcross bar or bow l7 rests at the front of the box or receptacle, thecloth making one fold and hanging down outside the receptacle, Theflexible cover is then allowed to make another fold outside of the saidbox or receptacle, and the third cross bar or how 17 is pulled down ontop of the second bow. The folded cloth or flexible cover between thethird bow 17 and the front bow 24 will make another fold outside of thereceptacle. The front cross bar or bow 24 is then pulled down into thebox allowing the cloth to fold outside of the box and the said front baror how will be allowed to rest directly above the rear bow first foldeddown into the box. The folds of the flexible cover outside of the boxwillthen be folded over into the same. If it be desired to take down theframe work of the top this may be done by releasing the spring latches33 from the supports 31, thus allowing the said supports to be liftedout of the front uprights 15. The sectional bars or tubes 16 may then betaken apalt and placedin the rear box or receptado on top of the cover,When it is desired to put-up'the top the operation just above described,with reference to the manner of taking it down, may simply be reversed.

While it is preferred to make the main bars16 of, the cover frame injointed sections which can be taken apart, it will be understood thatsaid main bars may be intcgral or non-jointed if desired, and may, wheneither Jointed or non-1o1nted, be either tubular or solid bars,although, for lightness and convenience, these main bars will preferablybe tubular and made in detachable sections, or jointed. Also while. itis preferred to attach the cloth to the bows, allowing said bows toslide on the main bars," it will be understood that the bows may berigidly attached to themain bars, the whole comprising an overheadfamework over which the cloth covering may be stretched, thereceptaclebeing provided at the rear for receiving the cloth when it isnot required overhead.

From theforegoing it will be understood that the invention provides aconvenient canopy top or cover for automobiles and, the like, which maybe readily taken down when desired, and folded snugly away in adustproo'f receptacle at the rear of the vehicle.

Such vehicle may have one or more seats,

gitudinal bars, a'fiexible cover attached to said cross bars or bows,and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle in which the said cover, infolded condition, together with said cross bars or bows, may beinclosed, combined with means, at the front of the vehicle, forstretching said cover taut, said stretching means comprisinga frontcrossbar or bow, to which the front end of said cover is attached, andmeans for pivotally and adjustably connecting said front cross bar orbow with the forward ends of said main longitudinal bars.

2. A vehicle top comprising main longitudinal bars rigidly supported atthe front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross bars or bowsslidinglymounted on said main longitudinal bars, a flexible cover attached tosaid cross bars or bows, and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle inwhich the said cover, in folded condition, together with said cross barsor bows, may be inclosed, combined with members pivoted to the frontends of said main longitudinal bars, toggle rods having screw-threadedconnections with said pivoted members and a frontcross bar or bow towhich the forward end of said cover is attached and which is rcmovablysupported by said toggle rods.

3. A vehicle top comprising main longitudinal bars rigidly supported atthe front and rear parts of the vehicle, crossbars or bowsslidinglymounted on said main longitudinal bars, a flexible cover attached tosaid cross bars or bows, and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle inwhich the said cover, in folded condition, together with said-cross barsor bows, may be inclosed, combined with members pivoted to the frontends of said main longitudinal bars, toggle rods having screw-threadedconnections with said pivoted members, a front cross bar or how, towhich the forward end of said cover is attached, and spring clips forremovably retaining said toggle rods in working position, ar which frontcross bar or bow is removablg supported by said toggle rods.

4'.- A vehicle top comprising ma'n longitudinal bars rigidly supportedat'tie front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross btirs or bowsslidingly mounted on said mam ongitudinal bars, a flexible coverattached to said cross bars or bows, and a receptacle at the rear of thevehicle in which the said cover, in folded condition, together with saidcross'bars'or bows-may be inclosed, combined with members pivoted to thefront endsof said main longitudinal bars, toggle rods havingscrew-threaded COILHGCtlOIlSWltll said ivoted members, and a front crossbar or )OW to which the forward end of said cover is attached, saidfront cross bar or how being provided with sockets removably receivingthe forward ends of said togglerods- 5. A vehicle top comprising mainlongi tudinal hars formed in detachable sections and rigidly supportedat the front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross bars or bows slidiaglymounted on said main longitudinal hars, a flexible cover attached tosaid cross hars or hows, and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle inwhich the said cover, in

folded condition, together with said cross hars or hows, may heincloscd, said cross liars heing provided with grooves and with slottedplates overlying said grooves, and said ilcxihle cover being providedwith straps having loops passing through said slotted plates into saidgrooves and adapted to receive fastening rods or pins.

(3. A vehicle top-comprising main longitudinal hars rigidly supported atthe front and rear partsof the vehicle, cross bars 01' hows supported hysaid main longitudinal bars. a llcxihle cover attached to said crosshars or hows. aud a receptacle at the rear of the \Ullh'lt' in which thesaid cover, in folded condition. together with said cross l)2ll'5 orhows. may he iucloscd. combined with means, at the front of thevchirlcgfor stretching said cover taut. said stretching means comprisinga front cross-liar or how, to which the front end of said cover isattached, and means for pivoiallv and adjustahly i-onnecting said frontcross-liar or how with the forward ends of said main longitudinal liars.

i'. A vehicle top con'iprisillg main longitudinal harsrigidly supportedat the front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross bars or hows supportedif said main longitudinal bars or hows. and a receptacle at the rear ofthe vehicle in which the said cover, in loldcd condition, together withsaid cross hars or hows, may he inrlosed, combined with incuihcrspivoted to the front ends of said main longitudinal hars. toggle'rodshav iug screw-thrc:ulcd connections with said pivoted iuciulicrs and afront cross bill or how to which the forward end of said cover isattached and which is removably supported by said toggle rods.

8. A vehicle to comprising main longitudinal burs rigi ly supported atthe front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross bars or bows supported bysaid main longitudinal bars, a flexible cover attached to said crossbars or bows, and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle in which thesaid cover, in folded condition, together with said cross bars or hows,may be inclosed, combined with members pivoted to the front ends of saidmain longitudinal hars, toggle rods having screwthrcaded connectionswith said pivoted members, a front cross bar or how, to which theforward end of said cover is attached, and spring clips for removablyretaining said toggle rods in working position, and which front crossbar or how is rcmovably' supported by said toggle rods.

J. A vehicle to comprising main longitudinal bars rigit ly supported atthe front and rear parts of the vehicle, cross bars or bows supported bysaid main longitudinal bars, a flexible cove attached to said cross barsor hows, and a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle in which the saidcover, in folded condition. together with said cross liars or hows, mayhe inclosed, combined with 1110111 hers pivoted to the front ends ofsaid main longitudinal bars, toggle rods having screwthrcadcdconnections with said pivoted memhcrs. and a front cross bar or how towhich the forward end of said cover is attached, said front cross bar orhow being provided with sockets remo'ably receiving the forward ends ofsaid toggle rods.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER G. MCGREGOR.

\Vitiwsses:

L. S. MUssnn,

C. WV. Cnonwl-znn.

